Auger bit head



June 6, 1950 .1. MOLAUGHLIN 2,510,751

AUGER BIT HEAD Filed April 8, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. r/ose o/b Z/clagg/flan June 6, 1950 AUGER BIT HEAD 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 8, 1944 INVENTOI Q. ribsey /i JfcZ azggfilaw Patented June 6, 1950 AUGER BIT HEAD Joseph McLaughlin, J oliet, Ill. Application April 8, 1944, Serial No. 530,196

(on. est-:69)

'1 Claim. 1

.Thisinvention relates to auger bit heads and particularly to the type of rotary augerbit head used for drilling in clay. coal and the like. As is .well understoodin the art, a bit head is securely attached to the auger screw by welding or any other suitable means, and into. this head are secured removable tool bits of .heat treated steel which actually do the cutting of the hole while the auger screw merely removes the cut material. The old and common problem in bit heads of this. type is to positively fix the tool bits in the head, because it is frequently necessary to replace the dulled bits with sharpened ones. Although this problem has received considerable attention in the art, a completely satisfactory solution has-been elusive and drilling operations are often seriously handicapped by losing drill bits in the drilled hole, resulting in tedious and expensive delays.

Theparticular object of the present invention is to provide an improved type of drill bit head wherein the bits are securely but removably fixed 51 1 in the head.

Another object is to provide an improved type of drill bit head wherein the bits are securely held in the head by wedges interlocked with the bits,

said wedges being secured to the head by addi- 'tional lock means.

A further object is to provide in a wedge interlocked with the drill bit, additional lock means which is adjustable for various wedged positions. 7 And a still further object is to provide an additional interlock means for a wedge interlocked with a drill bit wherein the additional lock means acts to more tightly fix the Wedge bit assembly in the head.

Other objects and benefits will be disclosed in the following descriptions and drawings in which: Fig. l is a front elevation view of my improved auger bit head complete;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation view of the head shown I. in Fig. 1 with one wedge and bit assembly re- Fig. 6 is a bottom planview of an optional form of wedge; and g a I Fig. 7' is a broken sid'eelevation view of the wedge shown in Fig.6 as it would appear on a center section line mounted in the head to show set screw locking means as: will later be explained. Fig. 8 is another bottomplan view of an optional form of wedge which uses a spring ring .l c nsm ns;

Fig. 9 isa broken sensation view for the held in position in the head;

, 2- wedge shown in Fig. 8 as it would appear on the center section line mounted in the head; and

. Fig. 10. is an end plan view of the wedge shown in Figs. 8 and 9.

Fig. 11 is a top plan view of another form of wedge which utilizes a hook wireto retainthe wedge in position;

Fig. 12 is a broken side elevation view of the wedge shown in Fig. 11 as it would appear on a center section line showing the wedge in Fig. 11

Fig. 13 is an end elevation view of the wedge shown in Figs. 11 and 12 showing the wire groove therein;

Fig. 14 is another form a Babbitt locking means;

. Fig. 15 is a side elevation view of the wedge shown in Fig. 14. as it would appear on a center or wedge which utilizes .section line with the wedge. held in position by a Babbitt lock;and

, Fig. 16 illustrates the use of a wire passing through the wedges and bit head to hold the wedges in place.

Now referring to the drawings, andat the outset to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, I show a conventional form of auger. bit head 28 having two bit bosses 2| and 22 at the bottom thereof. A pair of tool bits 25 are held in the boss 2| by a, wedge 23 and the assembly of the bits and wedge are retained in the boss 2| by a spring ball retaining device 21. Similarly the other pair of toolbits 26 are held in the boss 22 by a wedge 24 as shown.

Now referring to Figsfl and 5 it will be observed that in the bottom of the bit recesses in the wedge 23 are two semi-circular bosses 23b. These bosses vfit in semi-circular recesses 251" in the tool bits 25 and when this assembly is inserted in the boss 2| the bits 25 are secured to the wedge 23 in such a manner as to make the removal of the bits 25 impossible without removing the Wedge 23 from the hole in the boss 2|. Thus, when the assembly of the bits and the wedge are inserted in theboss 2|, they are held together as a unit.

Now referring to Fig. 5 it will be observed that the detent ball 2'! is .urged upwardly by a spring .28 and that when the detent passes the shoulder 2|s of the boss 2| the ball securely locks the assembly of the wedge and bits in the boss 2| and they can not be removed Without depressing the detent ball 21. Further, it will be appreciated that as the wedge 23 is driven further into the boss 2|, a considerable. amount of locking latitude is afforded by the semispherical ball 27, in fact for a distance of practically one-half its diameter. It will be appreciated, that this wedging action is automatic and therefore, when the wedge is driven into the boss, the locking action will efiectively take place.

Now referring to Figs. .6 and 7, I show an optional form of wedge wherein a semi-spheri- .cal depression is made in the bottom. of therecesses, and further that this depression is made at a point substantially adjacent the center of the bit. Thus, the bits may be reversed to supply a new sharp set.. or cutting edges with the same bits. With this construction, I provide a semi-circular boss on the tool bits to fit in the semi-circular recesses in the wedge, and with this construction effect the interlock between the two bits as previously described in the structure shown in Figs. 4 and 5. This construction will be well understood by referring to.- Figs. 6 and '7 wherein the optional form of wedge 29 has semicircular recesses 29r in the bottom of the bit recesses and the bits 3filhave semi-circular bosses iii?) to fit; in these recesses. I now look the assembly' or the. Wedge and bits. into the boss 2i by means. oi. a hollow head setv screw ii in the boss 2| abutting against the incline 291 of a notch in the Wedge 29 to efiectively lock the wedge. 29 in pnsition. Further, it be. appreciated that the inclined bottom 292, combinedwith the. tapered point. of the. set. screw 3| will have. the efiect of tightening. the wedge. 29: in the boss 2|- Similarly, a. hollow head set screw 32 in the wedge 29, forced against the slanting bot.- tom of. a locking: hole r32 will effectively lock the wedge and bit. assembly in the. boss 21. Although I have shown two set screws 31 and 32 to. effect this. locking. action, it will be. appreciated that efiective results may be obtained with a single set screw in either of the two positions as shown.

New referring to Figs. 8, 9. and 10. the wedge 33; is exactly; similar to that shown and described for the wedge 29 in Figs. 6 and Z having the dual recesses 331.- for holding the bits in exactly the same manner as described; However, in order to hold the wedge 33 in position in the boss. 2| I provide around extension 34 on the upp r end. This roundl extension 34 is covered with concentrie. grooves. 349. to take a conventional snap ring 35 as. shown in Fig. 9. A longitudinal groove 3:4s provides means to movethe-ring along until it; abuts. the shoulder 2Is of the boss 2t. It. will be obvious that when the snapring 35 isin this. position, the wedge-33 is securely locked in theboss 21, and can only be removed by removing the snap. ring 35 which is done in a conventional. manner by a pointed instrument in the groove 348.

New referring to Figs. 11, 1 2 and 13, I show another form of wedge 31 having a longitudinal wire groove 38 in the center thereof and a hole 39 in its end. The hole and central groove are connected to provide space for a hook wire 40 to be inserted therein. When the wedge 31 is driven. in position in the boss 2 i, the wire 43 is bent downwardly at 40b into.v a tapered slot 21s in the boss 2| to effectively lock the wedge in position. The wire 4B being almost completely embedded in the: structure, is not liable to disarrangement and effectivelylocks the wedge in position.

Now. referring to Figs. 14 and 15', I show another type of wedge 41 having a central key groove 42' in its outer face. This key groove connects. with a hole 43 inthe boss 41 and provides: space for a melted Babbitt key which is poured in position. I use a low melting point Babbitt andtherefore, when it is necessary to remove the wedge 4|, a blow torch put onthe boss. 21. over the funnel 43a will quickly remove the Babbitt for removal of the wedge and replacement of the bits.

Now again referring to Fig. 13, it will be noted that the bits 3llprovide the only bottom and: side contact with the wedge openings. in the boss 21L.-

the arrangement providing gaps 44 and 45 between the wedge 31. The rounded top of the wedge 37: in a similarly termed. opening in the boss thus provides a structure wherein the wedg- .ing action definitely acts to force the bit 30 into firm gripping contact with the boss 2|. This securelsr fixes the bits and prevents wobble that loosens keys in service. By referring to Figs. 3*, 5, 7, 10, 12 and 15 it will be noted that these gaps 44 and 45 are included in all my optional structures.

Fig. 16 illustrates the use of a wire 41 passing through openings in wedges 23-24, and through a. substantially aligned. opening 4th in hit head 20, with the ends 49 and 50 0t wire W bent over as shown. In this construction, wire; 4.! looks the wedges by being disposed ada'ranent shoulder 21's: on boss. 21. and also. the? analogues shoulder on boss: 22-; Thus. the 41 serves as a detent means. to. hold: the. wedges. in; place.

From the foregoing descriptions, it will be. appreciated that I have provided an improved drill bit. head structure. wherein. the. bits. are securely held in operating position by meansoi a wedge interlocked with the beeth. I fiurther pro.- vided additional lock meansto fixtheinterloeked bits and wedges. assemblies in eifective operating position while. providin means: to. remove. the assemblies for. replacement andrepairs.

Having thus described. my: invention... 1 new claim as new:

In an auger bit head, tool bit bosses: each having tapered tool receiving openings extending therethrough, bit, and wedge assemblies include ing bottom edge recesses in the: wedges mount.- ing the bits below and sidewise of the Wedges, interlocking key means between. the. wedges and bits preventing relative longitudinal. movement or the assemblies, each of said wedge. assemblies comprising a wedgeandstraight sided. teeth com.- bined to present tapered external contours co.- acting with their respective. tapered boss. openingto. cause said, interlocking. keymeans to. rest in. positively locked position. substantially centrally within the depth of saidtapered boss, said wedges. each having an. extension. thereonadapted to): projecting outwardly from the upper edge of the associated boss. opening, and. automatic spring detent means carried by the extensions of said wedges and coacting with the upper surfaces of said bosses. to lock the. wedges. in. fixed relation within the bit. head openings a ainst longitudinal withdrawal movement. and to. position said interlocking key means in positive operative locked relation and nested deeply within said boss openings.

JOSEPH MCLAUG'HDIN'.

REFERENCES CITED.

The. following references are of recnrd in. the file ofi this Patent;

STATES PATENTS Number Date.

1,592,586. Meredith July 27, 1926 1,738,382 McCullough et al. .De'c. 3;,1'929 1,797,776 Jacobi 24, 1931 1,974,117 M'cleughlin Sept- 13; 1934 1,983,798 Ha'IdSOOg DEC. 11, 1934 1 997 887 Prior Apr. 16, 1935 2301-93509 Gbok Aug. 6, 1935 2,109,613 Cook Mar; 1', 1938 2,13145799: McGlaughlin- A131: 29S 15938 2,237,133 Cook Apr. 1', 194*].

-- 2,289,935 Rufus July 14, I942 

